2014 Assen MotoGP FP2: Aleix Espargaro Sets Record Pace

Aleix Espargaro has posted the fastest ever lap time by a motorcycle rider at the Assen circuit and topped MotoGP FP2 under glorious sunny conditions. The Forward Racing rider extracted every inch of performance from his super-soft tyre to set a time of 1:33.653, which was just under a tenth quicker than Casey Stoner's long standing circuit record and put him two tenths clear of Marc Marquez in second place.

Fellow Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa was a further two tenths behind in third followed by Jorge Lorenzo and another beneficiary of super-soft rubber Andrea Iannone. Bradley Smith and Valentino Rossi set identical lap times ahead of morning pace setter Pol Espargaro who made it five Yamaha's in the top eight while Stefan Bradl and Andrea Dovizioso completed the top ten.

The make-up of the top ten could prove crucial if tomorrow's forecast rain appears as the quickest times from this session could end up being used to determine the automatic Q2 participants.